Strengthening early-grade Mathematics through Inclusive, Level-appropriate Education (SMILE)

Newly qualified and in-service early grade (grades 1-3) primary teachers provide effective, levelappropriate and gender responsive early grade maths (EGM) teaching. The current programme aims to improve Early Grade Math (EGM) teaching – and thus learning – in Cambodia by simultaneously strengthening pre- and in-service teacher training on maths pedagogical content knowledge, as well as on level appropriate gender responsive teaching and classroom management – such a holistic approach does not only improve learning outcomes, but also learners’ wellbeing. By building the capacity of teacher trainers and other relevant staff of the provincial teacher training centres of Kep, Kampong Thom and Kampot, student teachers in the targeted provinces will graduate with the skills to provide high quality, gender responsive and level-appropriate EGM teaching in their future classrooms. Concurrently, VVOB will strengthen the capacity of the in-service teacher professional development structures to train grade 1 to 3 teachers on gender responsive and levelappropriate EGM teaching. Since teachers flourish in an enabling environment, the programme also provides professional development to school leaders and school-based mentors to support teachers in the implementation of EGM. Whereas the implementation of the intervention focuses on the provinces of Kep, Kampong Thom and Kampot, VVOB will also partner with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) and one or more research institutions to foster a climate of collaboration, dialogue and adaptive learning aimed at collecting evidence on the cost-effectiveness of the programme, which in turn will inform the design of a nationwide scaling strategy.